Animals & science

How did it start?

Scientific research is in the DNA of Antwerp ZOO & Planckendael ZOO. Practiced and applied in our parks, in our foreign research stations and in our zoological research centre. That centre has become become one of the most progressive centres in the world since the official start in 2000.

Research disciplines

Our scientists and experts are leaders in their fields, which include genetics, animal behaviour, animal welfare, veterinary medicine and animal morphology. With this expertise we work together in research projects related to three main themes: animal welfare, nature conservation and basic zoology research.

Who is behind it?

We practice science in our parks day in, day out. Rather anonymously and behind the scenes. Who are we? What do we do? And why are we so interested in zoological research? Why is a scientific basis for the daily work in our zoo, and by extension in nature, so important?

Stories

Green leaves for gorillas

Nutritious winter leaves for our animals are difficult to get. To find out whether more nutrients are retained by ensiling willow leaves than by current alternatives for feeding our gorillas, we have joined up with of Odisee University College.

Corridors in Kerala

Our parks aren’t the only place where we do all we can to improve living conditions for Asian elephants. We also support expanding their territory in the wild. In India, we’re helping move farmers, so that elephants have free passage.

Follow us on Twitter

Some 80 researchers raise alarms: chimpanzees are threatened in biodiversity, but also in behavioral diversity. Among them our researchers Jacob Willie and Nikki Tagg who used research results from our 'Projet Grands Singes' in Cameroon Read more: 🌐https://t.co/jNvbSQfPIb

With @VITObelgium we're starting research on #climatechange & #biodiversity. We'll develop new tools and collect data to study the impact on golden-headed lion tamarins in Brazil. All members @EAZAZoos make the greatest possible contribution 🌐https://t.co/uIJYfu7OZB #ZOOscience

It's #InternationalWomensDay. No shortage of women within the science team and the team of zoological experts @zooantwerpen & @zooplanckendael with 12 vs 11. At the head of our scientific and zoological department even director Linda Van Elsacker 🌐https://t.co/MGqYZ6JJIy 💪

Half-yearly meeting of the Research Committee @EAZAZoos in Amsterdam today. Our scientist @ZPereboom is chairman. "We are committed to the mission of zoos to conduct scientific research, with a view to preserving endangered species in nature" #ZOOscience

Michelle Pijpers from @HAShogeschool is observing the cape buffalos at @zooantwerpen, under supervision of our animal welfare scientist @marina_salas1. Michelle investigates social behaviour and use of space of the animals with an app developed by @lincolnparkzoo #ZOOscience https://t.co/nyN2UL2gXJ

Finding green for our animals during winter isn't easy. That is why we are researching a new preservation technique @zooantwerpen, together with @odiseehogesch , so that willow leaves will staye more nutrient. Our expert @MPapies explains it 🌐https://t.co/JAlgfnvEDc #ZOOscience